Animated doll



Aug. 11, 1953 H. P. STEWART 2,648,161

ANIMATED DOLL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1951 I I 14 INVENTOR#:Weresrsmer Z2 2.1 17 ATTORNEY a 1953 r H. P. STEWART 4 ANIMATED 001.1.

Filed Nov. 20, 1951 s sheen-s eet 2 INVENTOR my? anwwr ATTORNEY I 11,1953 H. P. STEWART ANIMATED Dom.

Filed 1m. 20*, 1951 3 Sha'gts-Sheat 3 INVENTOR. HE'NPY I? STEWMTPatented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED DOLL HenryP. Stewart, Binghamton, N. Y.

Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,368

Claims. I

This invention has to do with dolls and, more particularly withmechanism insertable within the head and body of a doll in order toprovide animation.

In the animated dolls that have existed heretofore the movements wereeither so restricted or exaggerated as to make the doll unlifelike. Oneof the principal causes for this was that the mechanisms for controllingmovements in the doll were cumbersome, complicated, given to getting outof working order and otherwise unsatisfactory.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a doll withanimating mechanism that is simple, sturdy and reliable.

According to a feature of the invention a doll has, insertable as aunit, mechanism which may be readily and securely mounted therein. Thehead of the doll is supported by a resilient member projecting from theunit. Two arm members project from the unit into the dolls arms.Movement of one of the arms will cause the dolls head to turn, andmovement of the other arm will cause the head to bow. There is alsoprovided a lever which projects out from the dolls body and which may beoperated to cause the arms to come together as in clapping.

According to another feature of the invention, the dolls arms may bedisengaged from operative position, which is at more or less rightangles to the body, and moved parallel to the body into a rest positionwhere they will be out of the way when the doll is not in use.

According to another feature of the invention, an eye mechanism ismounted in the dolls head, which cooperates with the head supportingmember so that when the dolls head is bowed its eyes will be closed.This mechanism will also operate to close the eyes when the doll isplaced in a horizontal position as in sleeping.

These and other features of my invention will be made clearer from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the animating mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on lines 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a dolls torso, showing the positioning ofthe mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism that controlsthebowing of the head,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the portion of the mechanism thatcontrols turning of the head from side to side.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mechanism 2 that controls the movingof the two arms towards one another,

Fig. 7 is a more detailed view of a portion of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on lines -8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the eye mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the eye mechanism with the head in bowedposition and the eyes closed, and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the eye mechanism with the head in lyingdown position and the eyes closed.

The mechanism to be described comprises two units, each of which can bereadily mounted within a dolls body. One unit is for the purpose ofproviding animation to the head and arms, and the other, an eyemechanism which is coordinated to respond in accordance with certainmovements of the head. The only portion of the dolls body which will behere shown and described are the head and a-portion of the torso. Thedolls arms will not be shown but only those portions of the animatingmechanism which are inserted in the arms of an assembled doll.

A cross-bar I is secured inside a doll head 2, from temple to temple. Ahead support 3 is of resilient material, preferably spring steel, andhas fastened to its upper portion, by rivets 4, a spring steel band 5whose upper end is bent back from support 3. As best seen in dottedlines (Fig. 2) head 2 is mounted-on support 3 by pushing the support upinto the head and forcing bar I between members 3 and 5 and intoposition in the space provided by convex portion 6 in band 5.

Lower end I of support 3 is suitably fastened to a stub shaft 8, towhich is also fastened a gear segment 9. Shaft 8 is supported in a.frame l0.

Frame [0 (Fig. 3) is positionedwithin the shell of the dolls torso,whichmay conveniently be divided into two halves II and [2. Upperportion I3 of frame In is held between two pairs of recessed bosses l5and I6, respectively, in shell halves II and i2. Lower portion IQ offrame [0 has holes I8 permittin it to slip over a peg" I! projectingfrom the bottom of shell half II and to rest against collar M at thebase of peg IT. A sleeve 22 extending from the bottom portion of shellhalf l2 fits over narrow end 23 of peg IT to engage portion [9 of frameIn. Shell halves II and I2 may be held together by any suitablefastening means. e. g. glue.

The various motions of which a dollhaving the mechanism of the inventioniscapable will now be explained with reference to the elements whichcontrol the respective movements.

The turning of the head from side to side as shown in Fig. 5 isaccomplished by the up and down movement of the dolls left arm generallyindicated at 25.

A shoulder disk 26 and a shaft 21 are connected to arm 25. Shaft 21rests on plates 28, 29 and 30. Plates 28 and 23 are soldered at 24 toone another and are connected by pivot 3! to plate 30. Portion 32 ofplate 29 is bent up so as to be parallel with disk 26 and has a lug orkey 33 projecting therefrom adapted to fit into slot or key way 34 indisk 25. Shaft 21 passes through a journal portion 35 provided in plate28 and is spring loaded by means of spring 36 extending between washer31 at the end of the shaft and journal 35. There is also connected toplate 30 a shaft 38 at whose other end a gear segment 39 meshes at rightangles with gear segment 9.

The bowing of the dolls head as shown in Fig. 4 is accomplished by thedownward movement of the dolls right arm generally indicated at 40. Theassembly of the right arm is the same as that described for the left arm25 and will not be here repeated.

A collar 4| loosely surrounds member 3 intermediate its two ends.Circular plates 42 and 43 are fastened to member 3 on either side ofcollar 4| to prevent it from moving along the length of member 3. Aprojection 44 extends from collar 4| and one end of a head control rod45 is attached thereto. The other end of rod 45 is connected to a link46, which is in turn connected to a shaft 41. Shafts 41 and 38 arefastened to frame In by brackets 43. Shaft 41 is connected to arm 40through mechanism similar to that described with respect to shaft 38 andarm 25.

When arm 40 is moved downwardly the dolls head 2 will be bowed as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 4. As soon as arm 40 is released the head willbe returned to its normal erect position by the resiliency of supportmember 3.

Lever 50 extends from the dolls body just beneath arm 25 and may beoperated to move arms 25 and 40 towards one another as in hand-clappmg.

Lever 50 is connected at end 5| to an arm 52 mounted on pivot 53. Thereis also connected to the bottom of pivot arm 52 a bar 54 whose other end55 is connected to a tongue 56 extending from plate 49. Another bar 51is connected between upper end 59 of pivot arm 52 and a tongue 28'extending from plate 28. A spring 58 is connected between member 54 andupper portion 59 of pivot arm 52. When lever 50 is pushed in as shown bythe arrow nearest it (Fig. 6) the dolls arms will be swung in towardseach other as indicated by the arrows nearest them. When pressure isremoved from lever 50, spring 58 restores the arms to their normalposition.

In normal or operative position the arms extend at about right anglesfrom the mechanism. In this position, as best seen in Fig. 7, key 33fits in key way 34 of each arm. Either arm may be disengaged fromoperative position by pulling disk 26 back into position shown in dottedlines (Fig. 8) and rotating the disk so that the arm may be eitherdropped or raised to lie parallel to the doll. In either case the armswill be out of the way and in inoperative position.

A special type of eye mechanism is provided for 4 the doll, whereby itseyes will close not only when the head is tilted back, but also when thehead is bowed, as previously described.

Referring to Figs. 9-11, the eye unit is supported within the head bymeans of an upper member 60, which is suitably fastened as at 6! to thehead. An eye supporting shaft 62 is carried in member 60 and has mountedat either end eyeballs 63 and 64 which are aligned with eye sockets (notshown) in the dolls face. Weights 65 and 65 depend from the bottom ofeyeballs 63 and 64 and tend to keep the eyes in open position when thedolls head is in normal erect position. A pinion gear 6'! is looselymounted on shaft 62 and has a finger 68 projecting therefrom. A hub 69mounted on shaft 62 turns with the shaft and has a finger l0 whichengages finger 68 of pinion 67. A lower member H is pivotally connectedat 12 to upper member 60. A gear segment 13 is rigidly connected tomember H and meshes with pinion 6?.

As best seen from Fig. 10, when the dolls head is bowed by operation ofits right arm, projection 44 connected to head supporting member 3 willbe moved forward as shown in dotted lines and its forward end will bearagainst portion 14 of member H. Movement of member H in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 10 will, via gear '13, rotate pinion 0! whose finger68 will engage finger 10 of hub 69 and in turn rotate eyeballs 53 and 64downwardly in the direction of the arrow to simulate eye closing. As thehead is returned to erect position weights 65 and 6B restore the eyes totheir normal open position. Fig. 11 shows how, when the dolls head istilted backward as in lying down, the movement of weights 65 and 66closes the eyes. Eye support shaft 62 is free to rotate because fingerl9 on hub 69 is mounted in front of finger 68 of pinion 61 and whenshaft 62 is rotated counter-clockwise there is no engagement between thefingers.

Although I have illustrated and described the preferred form of myinvention, it will be obvious that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope ofthe subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. An animated doll having a hollow body and. head for insertion of amechanical unit, a supporting frame for said unit mounted in the torsoof the doll; a resilient head supporting member extending into the headand having one end fastened thereto, the other end of said member beingsupported in said frame, a first arm supported from said frame, gearmeans connecting said arm to said head support, whereby when the arm ismoved up and down the dolls head will be turned from side to side; a rodconnected at one end intermediate the two ends of said head support, asecond arm supported from said frame, a shaft connecting said arm tosaid rod, whereby when said second arm is moved down the dolls head willbe bowed; a lever extending from the dolls body, a pivot member mountedin said frame and connected to said lever and to said first and secondarms whereby when said lever is pushed in the arms will be moved towardsone another as in clapping.

2. An animated doll having a hollow body and head for insertion of amechanical unit, a supporting frame for said unit mounted in the torsoof the doll, a resilient head supporting member extending into the headand having one end fastened thereto, the other end of said member beingsupported in said frame, a first gear seg- 5, ment connected to saidlast mentioned end of the head support, a second gear segment meshingwith said first gear segment, a first arm supported from said frame andconnected to said second gear, whereby when the arm is moved up and downthe dolls head will be turned from side to side; a rod connected at oneend intermediate the two ends of said head support, a second armsupported from said frame, a shaft connecting said arm to said rod,whereby when said second arm is moved down the dolls head will be bowed;a lever extending from the dolls body, a pivot arm mounted in said frameand connected to one end of said lever, 21. first bar connected betweenone end of said pivot arm and said first arm of the doll, a second barconnected between the other end of said pivot arm and said second arm ofthe doll whereby when said lever is pushed in the arms will be movedtowards one another as in clapping.

3. An animated doll having a hollow body and head for insertion of amechanical unit, a supporting frame for said unit mounted in the torsoof the doll and positioned by recessed bosses in the torso engaging theupper portion of the frame and a peg and sleeve arrangement projectingfrom the torso to engage the bottom portion of said frame; a cross barinside the head at about the level of the temples; a spring steel headsupporting member extending into the head and fastened at one end ofsaid cross bar, the other end of said member being supported in saidframe, a first arm supported from said frame, a first gear segmentconnected to said last mentioned end of the head support, a second gearsegment meshing with said first gear segment, a first shaft connected atone end to said second gear, key means in the other end of said firstshaft to cooperate with said key, key way means in said first arm of thedoll, spring means urging said key into the key way, whereby when saidkey is in the key way and the arm is moved up and down the dolls headwill be turned from side to side; a rod connected at one endintermediate the two ends of said head support, a link connected to theother end of said rod, a second shaft connected at one end to said linkand at the other end to the other arm of the doll similarly to theconnections for said first arm, whereby when the arm is moved down thedolls head will be bowed; a

lever extending from beneath one of the dolls arms, a pivot arm mountedin said frame and connected to one end of said lever, a first barconnected between one end of said pivot arm and said first arm of thedoll, a second bar connected between the other end of said pivot arm andsaid second arm of the doll whereby when said lever is pushed in thearms will be moved towards one another as in clapping.

4. An animated doll having a hollow body and a head movable through aplurality of positions and adapted to have inserted therein a mechanicalunit, a supporting frame for said unit mounted in the torso of the dolland positioned by recessed bosses in the torso engaging the upperportion of the frame and a peg and sleeve arrangement projecting fromthe torso to engage the bottom portion of said frame; a cross bar insidethe head at about the level of the temples; a spring steel headsupporting member extending into the head and fastened at one end tosaid cross bar, the other end of said member being supported in saidframe, a first gear segment connected to said last mentioned end of thehead support, a second gear segment meshing with said first gearsegment, a first shaft connected at one end to said second gear and atthe other end to a first plate, second and third plates superimposed onsaid first plate and pivotally connected thereto, a first shoulder diskhaving a key way, a key on said third plate adapted to enter said keyway, a first rigid member corresponding to the dolls arm fastened tosaid first disk, a first spring loaded shaft extending from said diskand urging said key into th key way, whereby when said key is in the keyway and the arm is moved up and down the dolls head will be turned fromside to side; a rod connected at one end intermediate the two'ends ofsaid head support, a link connected to the other end of said rod, asecond shaft connected at one end to said link and at the other end to asecond rigid member corresponding to the other arm of the doll similarlyto the connections for said first rigid member, whereby when the arm ismoved down thedolls head will be bowed, a lever extending from beneathone of the dolls arms, a pivot arm mounted in said frame and connectedto one end of said lever, a first bar connected between one end of saidarm and a first tongue on said first plate, a second bar connectedbetween the other end of the arm and a second tongue on the platecorresponding to said last mentioned plate and connected to the secondarm, and a spring connection between one of said bars and the end ofsaid pivot arm connected to the other bar, whereby when said lever ispushed in the arms will be moved towards one another as in clapping,

5. The device according to claim 4, and in which said arms have anoperative position and a rest position, in operative position said keysfor each arm being in their respective key ways, and in rest positiondisengaged therefrom.

6. The device according to claim 4, and an eye mechanism in the headcomprising a member f astened to the head, eye balls having open andclosed positions rotatably mounted on said member, and means for closingthe eyes when the head is bowed relative to said body in response tomovement of one of said arms.

'7. The device according to claim 4, and an eye mechanism in the headcomprising a first member fastened to the head, eye balls having openand shut positions rotatably mounted on said member, a weight dependingfrom each of said eye balls, a second member pivotally connected to saidfirst member, gear means interconnecting said two members, and meansconnected to said head supporting member for closing the eyes when thehead is bowed.

8. The device according to claim 4, and a projection connected to saidhead supporting member cooperating with an eye mechanism in the headcomprising a first member fastened to the head, an eye supporting shaftcarried by said first member, eye balls having open and shut positionsrotatably mounted at either end of said shaft, a weight depending fromeach of said eye balls, a first gear mounted loose on said shaft, afirst finger projecting from said gear, a hub fastened to said shaft, asecond finger projecting from said hub and adapted to engage said firstfinger, a second member pivotally connected at one end to said firstmember, second gear means connected to said second member and meshinwith said first gear whereby when the head is bowed said projectionengages said second member and said second gear will operate said firstgear to rotate the eyes into closed position.

frame, a hollow head secured on said flexible member, an arm including ashaft journaled on said frame, means connecting said shaft to saidflexible member whereby said head is adapted to turn in response to upand down movement of said arm, a second arm including a shaft journaledon said frame, a crank lever secured to the inner end of said secondnamed shaft, a link member pivotally connected to and between saidflexible member and said crank lever, whereby said head is adapted to bebowed in response to downward movement of said second named arm, amember pivoted to said frame intermediate its ends, a lever pivotallyconnected to one end of said pivoted member and extending outwardly ofsaid body, a link connected to each end of said pivoted member with theopposite ends thereof pivotally connected respectively to said first andsecond named arms whereby manipulation of said pivoted lever will causethe free ends of said arms to come together to simulate hand clapping.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9, characterized in that each armsupporting shaft and arm includes a yieldable coupling meanstherebetween whereby said arms are adapted for relative movement into aninoperative position parallel with said body portion.

- HENRY P. STEWART.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,332,518 Peterman Mar. 2, 1920 1,332,732 Lizzi Mar. 2, 19202,137,371 Marsh Nov. 22, 1938

